Summer fruits drive me crazy. I want to buy them all but I also want to make sure I can eat them all.  This recipe adapts my favorite Moroccan Chicken Tagine with Apricots and Chickpeas to take advantage of all the amazing stone fruits in season right now.  The stewed fresh nectarines and plums give it a tart sweetness to balance the chili spice. The dried apricots absorb the complex sauce and bring it to a new level.  We served this with a side of whole wheat couscous mixed with parsley, pine nuts, and dried cherries to continue the stone fruit  theme.  It would also be amazing with Moroccan spice marinated carrots or saffron rice on the side.  This recipe is paleo, gluten-free, and delicious.

A word about the spices

What really makes this special, of course, are the spices: specifically saffron, Ras el Hanout and harissa. Saffron is easy enough to find. I use it frequently and buy it from Amazon but, for those who don’t use it as often, I’ve seen great prices on small amounts at Trader Joe’s.

Ras el Hanout is a traditional Moroccan spice blend which loosely translates to “top of the shop” implying the shopkeeper’s best quality blend. My all-time favorite Ras el Hanout is from the World Spice Market in Seattle but, even though I stocked up over the holidays, I ran out around February. I’ve been happy with my old standby Zamouri brand that I buy on Amazon. Alternatively, if you have a well stocked spice rack you can make your own by combining the following:

Ras el Hanout
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground turmeric
3/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground coriander seeds
1/2 tsp cayenne
1/2 tsp ground allspice
1/4 tsp ground clove
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp ground cardamom
1/2 tsp mace
1/2 tsp lavender
All my favorite brands have rosebuds, but I can’t imagine many people have that in their spice rack so lavender substitutes for that floral taste

As far as harissa goes, my old standby is Le Cabenon.  It packs a lot of heat  and I love that it comes in a tube and can last forever in the fridge.

Stone Fruit and Chicken Tagine

Ingredients

• 1/4 c low-sodium, fat-free chicken stock
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 large pinch saffron
• 1 tbs olive oil, divided
• 6 4-oz boneless skinless chicken thighs
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 medium onions, thinly sliced vertically
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2-1/2 tbs Ras el Hanout
• 1 tbs harissa, or to taste
• 1 tbs tomato paste
• 4 fresh plums, peeled and diced, divided
• 4 fresh nectarines, peeled and diced, divided
• 1/3 c dried apricots, halved
• 1/4 c fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/4 c fresh cilantro, chopped

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F.

In a small bowl, combine chicken stock, cinnamon stick, and saffron. set aside.

Heat 1 tsp oil in a tagine, dutch oven, or deep braiser over medium-high heat. Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper and cook until outsides are brown, about 6-8 minutes a side. Remove chicken to a plate.

Add remaining 2 tsp oil to the pot and stir to scrape up any brown bits. Add sliced onions and saute, stirring, until translucent, about 6 minutes. Add minced garlic and saute another 30 seconds, until fragrant. Add Ras el Hanout and harissa. Cook another 30 seconds.

Add tomato paste, 3 plums, 3 nectarines, apricots chicken stock, saffron, and cinnamon stick to the pot. Bring to a simmer and nestle the chicken thighs into the mixture, pour any juices that may have collected on the chicken plate into the pot.

Cover and transfer to the oven until chicken is cooked through, about 20-25 minutes. Alternatively, if you're using a tagine, you can reduce heat to medium low and leave on the stove top, covered, 20-25 minutes.

When the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165F, stir in the remaining plum, nectarine, parsley, and cilantro.

Serve with couscous or a side of Moroccan spiced carrots.

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https://www.homesweetjones.com/2014/06/stonefruit-chicken-tagine/